Prospective study of the Transurethral Suprapubic endo-Cystostomy (T-SPEC(®)): an 'inside-out' approach to suprapubic catheter insertion.

OBJECTIVES: To prospectively evaluate the new medical device Transurethral Suprapubic endo-Cystostomy (T-SPeC(®)), used for suprapubic catheter (SPC) placement via the transurethral (inside-to-out) approach, and examine the 30-day outcomes in the first US series. METHODS: IRB approval was obtained for this prospective study. We evaluated the first 114 consecutive cases of SPC placement using the T-SPeC(®) device by a single surgeon at in a 20-month period. We excluded patients who underwent alternative approaches to suprapubic catheter placement including open abdominal approach (12) and percutaneous approach (5). Preoperative patient demographics, operative detail, success rate and 30-day complication rate were recorded. RESULTS: We successfully placed an 18 Fr suprapubic catheter using the T-SPeC(®) device in 98.2 % of patients. During the procedure, the capture housing was missed twice. The mean patient age was 56.6, BMI 29.4 kg/m(2), skin to bladder distance 6.7 cm and operative time 3.6 min. There were 12 postoperative complications within 30 days of the procedure including urinary tract infections (6), SPC exit site infection (2), SPC blockage (2) and catheter expulsion (2). There were no Clavien-Dindo grade III-IV complications such as re-operation, small bowel injury, hemorrhage or death. CONCLUSION: The T-SPeC(®) device is a novel, simple, accurate and minimally invasive device for SPC insertion from an inside-to-out approach. Our prospective study demonstrates that the T-SPeC(®) device can be placed safely and efficiently in a variety of patients with a need for urinary drainage.

Urothelial carcinoma with orbital metastasis.

A case of urothelial carcinoma of the bladder with orbital metastasis in a 53-year-old woman is presented. This case is unique in that the orbit was the sole site of metastasis and extensive lymph node dissection was negative just weeks before the diagnosis of orbital disease. Although rare, patients with urothelial carcinoma and ophthalmic signs or symptoms warrant specialist consultation and appropriate imaging.

The current status of cryotherapy and high-intensity focused ultrasound in the treatment of low-grade prostate cancer.

As a result of widespread serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening and prostate cancer awareness, the detection of low-grade prostate cancer has increased. At the moment, it is unclear how to treat patients in this population. Thus, we focused on reviewing therapies for patients in this low risk group. The purpose of this review paper is to present the status of emerging therapies of cryotherapy and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in patients with low risk disease. Based on our review of the literature, there are several small-scale studies of these two therapies that have revealed favorable outcomes, but with complications of urinary incontinence and impotence. With further research, these therapies may develop into good alternatives for patients in this expanding group.

The effect of short-term dutasteride intake in early-stage prostate cancer: analysis of 148 patients who underwent three-dimensional prostate mapping biopsy.

OBJECTIVES: The effect of dutasteride on existing prostate cancer volume is largely unknown. In this study, we assessed the impact of dutasteride on tumor burden and Gleason score. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients from our institution was performed, examining men interested in surveillance for prostate cancer, who underwent transperineal three-dimensional mapping (TP-3DM) biopsy within 3-6 months after their initial cancer diagnosis. The criteria to qualify for TP-3DM biopsy included prostate-specific antigen < 10 ng/mL, Gleason score ≤ 7, ≤ 2 positive cores out of 12. There were 2 cohorts of men--those who took dutasteride daily before the TP-3DM biopsy and those who did not receive any 5ARIs. Upstaging of prostate cancer diagnosis was defined as an increase in one or more positive cores or a change from unilateral to bilateral disease. RESULTS: From 2006-2008, a cohort of 148 men underwent TP-3DM biopsy of the prostate. Ninety-one men received a treatment regime of dutasteride at least 3 months before TP-3DM biopsy. Fifty-seven men did not receive dutasteride or any other 5ARI. Approximately 74% of men who did not take dutasteride were upstaged and/or upgraded compared with 49.4% of men who received dutasteride (P = .0038). CONCLUSIONS: We observed a 24.3% decrease in the proportion of upstaging and/or upgrading of prostate cancer in men who received dutasteride at least 3 months before 3D prostate TP-3DM biopsy. Thus, the effect of dutasteride on prostate cancer may have implications for its potential use as a secondary chemoprevention agent.